Drier.



D. S. CROSBY & S. E. CULLUM.

0mm. APPLIQATION FILED AUG.3. 1916.

Patented Apr. 15,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

mwwmm D. S.-CROSBY & S. E. CULLUM.

. DRIER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-3. I916- Patented Apr. 15,1919.

a: f w 1527/(2722076 .D'ZL S. CROSBY 5/4 a; 5 Cull-UM V fiwzwmww ITED s'rn'rns Parana W DELL S. GRQSBY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AND SILAS E. CULLUIVI, 0F TOWER, MINNESOTA.

DRIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

Application filed August 3, 1916. Serial No. 112,939.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that we, DELL S. CROSBY an SILAs E. OU'LLUM, citizens of the United States, residingat Chicago and Tower, respectively, in the counties of Cook and St. Louis, respectively, and States of Illinois and Minnesota, respectively, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Driers; and we do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to improvements in driers, and particularly to driers for earthenware, such as brick and tile. Tothe above end, generally stated, the invention consists of the novel devices and combination of devices, hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention,.like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views. e

Referring to the drawings:

Figuresl and 1 are supplemental views in longitudinal vertical section illustrating respectively, the left and right hand sections of the improved drier, and intended to be put together on theline yy,'

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in vertlcal section taken on the irregular line 22 of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale, some parts being illustrated'by means of broken 111168;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on theline 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary end elevation of the delivery end of the shed, on an enlarged scale, some parts being shown invertical section; y

Fig.5 is a p'erspective view of one of the ware conveying pallets; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective vlew of a 11160113311! cal device for imparting. a step by step movement to a train of'pallets.

The numeral 1 indicates a longshed structure having an insulated ceiling 2 inclined from the delivery .endof the shed, and also having vertical partitions 3 between its floor andceilin which divide the shed into, as shown, six long, relatively narrow tunnels 4. Each end or mouth of eachtunnel-4 is normally closed by pairs ofhinged doors 5. The receiving and delivery ends of the tunnels 4 open,respectively, into common transfer sheds 6 and 7. While the sheds 1,

6, and 7 are all illustrated as wooden structures, they, of course, may be constructed of brick or other suitable materials.

As each tunnel 4 is identical, the one with the other, the description of the one will suffice for the others. At the receiving end of each tunnel 4 is, as shown, three ventilating stacks 8 longitudinally spaced with respect to the tunnel and equipped, each with a slide damper 8 for controlling the passage of air upward therethrough.

Artificial heat, preferably steam, is sup plied direct to each tunnel 4, at the delivery end thereof, by a radiator comprising headers 9 and 10 connected by a multiplicity of laterally spaced pipes 11. The headers 9 and 10 extend transversely of the tunnel, while the pipes 11 extend longitudinally thereof. The radiator is horizontally disposed along the floor of the tunnelwith the exception of the header 10 which islocated in the transfer shed 7 slightly below the floor line of the tunnel. Each radiator extends from the delivery end of the respective tunnel 4, substantially one-third of the entire length thereof. The headers 9 inthe several tunnels 4 are connected to acommon feed pipe 12 leading from a' suitablesource of heat supply, not shown. IIancl valves 13 are provided for independently controlling the radiators. The several headers 10 are all connected to a common return pipe 14 located therebelow.

Transfer cars 15 provided to run on the tracks 16 and 17 have short transverse track sections to receive lift cars 18. One ofthe transfer cars 15 and also one of the lift cars 18 are diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 2 by means of broken lines. As both of these cars are of well known construction, it will not be necessary to described the same in detail, and their respective reference numerals indicate the same as entireties. v

The wares, to be dried in the tunnels, are placed on pallets each comprising a rectangular frame and a platform made up of edgewise spaced slats which extend transtical flanges thereof are curved upward and inward, respectively.

The pallets 19, while being loaded, with the wares to be dried, are supported in an elevated position in the customary manner. When one of the pallets 19 is loaded, the same is picked up by one of the lift cars 18 Which, in turn, is pushed onto one of the transfer cars 15. The transfer car is then pushed along the track 16 into the transfer shed 6 and stopped in front of one of the tunnels 4. The lift car 18 is then pushed from the transfer car 15 onto a short track section 21 which leads into the receiving end of the tunnel 4.

By reference to Fig. 2 it will be noted that the pallet 19 is considerably Wider than the lift car 18, and upon entering the tunnel 4 is carried by said lift car in a position above the roller equipped rails of a track 22. With the pallet 19 in this position, the lift car 18 is operated to lower said pallet onto the track 22. When the pallet 19 is on the track 22, the horizontal flanges of its shoes 20 rest directly on the rollers of the rails, and the vertical flanges of the shoes extend downward between the rollers to hold the pallet against lateral movement on the track. Obviously, the curved ends of the flanges of the shoes 20 permit said shoes to slide freely on the rollers of the rails.

Each rail of the track, as shown, is made up of alined timbers 23 and alined metal bar sections 24 bolted to the upper face of the timbers 23 and having laterally spaced pairs of bearings 25 to which are journaled rollers 26- The timbers 23 are bolted to wall brackets 27 on the sides of the tunnel 4. As shown, the brackets 27 are in the form of short horizontal blocks, and the brackets on the walls of the partitions 3 are double, extend therethrough and support the inner rails of adjacent tracks 22. Obviously, the brackets 27 support the rails of the track 22 close to the side walls of the tunnel 4 so that the central portion of the said tunnel is unobstructed throughout its entire length. The track 22 has substantially the same inclination as the roof of the tunnel 4, that is, it is inclined from its delivery end.

As the loaded pallets are placed on the track 22, they are given a step by step movement to make room for the next loaded pallet to be placed thereon, and also to progressively advance the pallets toward the otter end of the tunnel. When the train of pallets completely fills the tunnel, the first one at the delivery end of the tunnel, after the wares thereon are properly dried, is removed, and the entire train advanced to make room for another pallet at thereceiving end of the tunnel.

The removal of the pallets from the tunnel 4, is just the reverse from the placing I of the same therein. In removing a pallet from the tmmel 4, one of the lift cars 18 is pushed along a short track section 28" to a position under the pallet to be removed. This track section 28 extends from the track 17 for a short distance into the delivery end of the tunnel. With the lift car 18 under the pallet to be removed, the same is operated to lift the respective pallet from the track 22. The lift car 18 is'then pushed. along the track 28 and onto a transfer car 15. on the track 17. The transfer car 15 is then pushed along the track 17 to convey the dried wares to an unloading station.

The inclination of the track 22 tends to cause the train of pallets to drift toward the delivery end of the tunnel. Unless the train of'pallets is too heavy, the same may be moved by hand on the track 22. In case the load is too heavy to be moved by hand, the same may be moved by a mechanical device. As one form of a mechanical device for imparting a step by step movement to V the train of pallets, there is illustrated in Fig. 6, an eccentric 29 having a socket 30 adapted to receive and hold an operating lever 31. The eccentric 29 is mounted on the intermediate portion of the horizontal shaft 32 having at its ends, ratchet tooth equipped dogs 33 arranged to interlock with ratchet bars 34 on the rail sections 23, and afford a fixed base of resistance for the eccentric 29. As shown, the ratchet bars 34 extend only for a short distance at the receiving end of the tunnel, but if desired, they may be extended the full length of the track 22.

In moving a pallet, or train of pallets, with the above described device, the same is supported on the ratchet bars 34 with the lever 31 up, and the eccentric 29 in contact with the rear end bar of the last pallet,

as shown in Fig. 6. The, lever 31 is then moved down and the pallet, or train of pallets, advanced under the action of the eccentric 29 thereon, as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 6. This operation is repeated until the pallet, or train of pallets, has been moved the required distance.

To permit the operator to tell-just how far he has moved a train of pallets, there-is stenciled, or otherwise marked on one side of the tunnel4, a scale of feet 35, or other identifying means. By means of this scale, an operator may note the position of a pallet, and knowing the length of the same, can then move the train of pallets, the length of one pallet, thus preventing the moving of the pallet at the ,delivery end of the tunnel of]? from the track 22. In the drawings the pallets areishown loaded with bricks Z, loosely piled thereon in the customary manner to permit free circulation of air therearound.

From the above description, it is evident that the several tunnels are entirely indemethod of heating and ventilating, and the progressive movement of the wares through the tunnel, as previously described, the wares are properly dried, which is from the inside out, in order to prevent checking. This checking results from subjecting the wares to too much heat at the first, thereby form inga crust through which the moisture in the wares must escape before they are properly dried.

The heat from the radiator is drawn toward the receiving end of the tunnel by the ventilator stacks, and the movement of the same is facilitated by the inclined roof of the tunnel. As the heat travels toward the receiving end of the tunnel, the same becomes more and more laden with the moisture given off by the drying ware, and finally escapes from the tunnel through the ventilating stacks. The escape of the air through these stacks may be controlled by the slide dampers therein.

While the system above described for progressively conveying the wares through the tunnel is of comparatively small cost, to install, and simple in construction and operation, it has in actual usage proven highly eflicient for the purpose had in view.

What we claim is:

V 1. In a drier of the kind described, the combination with a tunnel, of a roller equipped track in the tunnel, a ware conveying pallet having metal angle shoes, the horizontal flanges of said shoes arranged to rest on the rollersof the track, and the vertical flanges of the shoes arranged back to back and turned downward to hold the pallet against lateral movement on the roller or the track.

(topics of this patent may be obtained for 2. In a drier of the kind described, the combination with a tunnel, of a roller equipped track in the tunnel, a ware conback and turned downward to hold the pallet against lateral movement on the roller of the track, said shoes being split at their end and the horizontal and vertical flanges thereof bent, the former upward and the latter inward with respect to the pallet.

3. In a drier of the kind described, the combination with a tunnel, of a track at each end of the tunnel, an elevated track in the tunnel and completing the gap between the tracks at the ends thereof, and a pallet carrying truck operating on the first noted tracks and adapted to deposit pallets on the elevated track at the receiving end of the tunnel and to remove the pallets from the elevated track at the delivery end of the tunnel.

4. In a drier of the kind described, the combination with a tunnel, of a track at each end of the tunnel, an elevated track in the tunnel, completing the gap between the tracks at the ends thereof and overlapping the same, and a pallet carrying truck operating on the first noted tracks and adapted to deposit pallets on the elevated track at the receiving end of the tunnel and to remove the pallets from the elevated track at the delivery end of the tunnel.

5. In a drier of the kind described, the combination with two tunnels separated by a wall, of an elevated track in each of the tunnels, brackets extending through the wall separating the tunnels and supporting the inner rails of the two tracks, and a ware conveying pallet mounted on the track in each tunnel for movement therethrough.

In testinony whereof we ailix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

DELL S. CROSBY. SILAS E. CULLUM. Witnesses:

JOSEPH A. DUNNING, LEONARD ARoNsoN.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

